| We know that our mothers and fathers contribute to | | | | active, however, the doctor would like to see them |
| our health and wellbeing by giving us the genetics | | | | both increase their activity level a little more. Gina and |
| that determine how easily we fight off illness as well | | | | John will both start taking supplements, including a |
| as how tall we are and the color of our hair. But did | | | | calcium and iron supplement for Gina because she is |
| you know that what your mother ate during her | | | | lacking in both and a protein supplement for both just |
| pregnancy can influence your health status later in | | | | to make sure that they have enough of this vital |
| life? There are a number of studies that show the | | | | macronutrient in their diet before, during and after |
| importance of not only good health in a woman at | | | | the pregnancy. |
| the start of her pregnancy, but continuous good | | | | Women need a minimum of 60 grams of protein |
| nutrition for the duration of the pregnancy and | | | | during their pregnancy, with more needed if the |
| throughout lactation as well. Some of the studies | | | | woman is carrying twins. The protein is vital not only |
| include: | | | | for the physical growth and development of the |
| - Women who smoke during pregnancy are more | | | | baby but for the placenta, amniotic tissue and |
| likely to have children who smoke (Science Daily | | | | additional maternal tissues as well. A woman's blood |
| November 29, 2006) | | | | volume increases up to 50% during her pregnancy, |
| - Overweight women who become pregnant increase | | | | and protein is an important factor for making the |
| the risk of complications during labor and delivery and | | | | new blood cells as well. The second and third |
| birth defects. (Science Daily January 26, 2010) | | | | trimester of the pregnancy is the period when the |
| - Children born to obese mothers have a higher risk | | | | baby is growing the fastest, so protein needs are |
| of childhood or adult obesity themselves. (Science | | | | most important then. Increased protein needs |
| Daily January 26, 2010) | | | | continue after the baby is born if the woman is |
| - Pregnant women who eat apples and fish during | | | | breastfeeding, when the need is for an addition 20 |
| gestation may protect their children from asthma or | | | | grams to help create the healthy and plentiful breast |
| allergies (Science Daily May 21, 2007) | | | | milk her baby needs (Source: Medio Consult Nutrition |
| - Women who do not get enough folate levels in | | | | Services). |
| pregnancy may increase the risk of children with | | | | There is no greater need for protein than in the first |
| attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems. (Science Daily | | | | six months of life, when the baby will need 2.2 grams |
| October 28, 2009) | | | | of protein per kilogram of body weight. This need |
| The diet and nutrition of women during their | | | | gradually decreases as the child grows, but there are |
| childbearing years will influence the health of their | | | | different stages that increase the protein needs once |
| developing fetus during pregnancy as well as | | | | again. For the baby, the increased protein is needed |
| throughout the child's entire lifetime. The diet can | | | | for brain and body development and to support the |
| increase or decrease the risk of such chronic | | | | very rapid growth during this period. |
| diseases as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, brittle | | | | The better the diet is before pregnancy, the easier it |
| bone disease, cancer and some forms of mental | | | | will be to continue that healthy eating, which is |
| illness. (Source: Science Daily, March 19, 2009) The | | | | important not only for the health of the developing |
| study that came up with these findings showed that | | | | baby but also the health and welfare of the mother |
| a diet that was not balanced, had too many or too | | | | during labor and delivery. The more obese the |
| few calories or ignored important minerals, vitamins or | | | | woman is, the more difficult that her delivery is going |
| macronutrients could have long-term negative health | | | | to possibly be. In addition, obese women are also less |
| effects. | | | | likely to have been exercising during their pregnancy, |
| In addition to poor maternal diet, the babies were | | | | leaving her muscles less flexible and also increasing |
| not being breastfed long enough and were being fed | | | | the trouble that she will have during the birth. Finally, |
| improper foods at the weaning stage, which also | | | | a study showed that obese women were also less |
| contributed to their poorer health status. All women, | | | | likely to have taken birthing classes and are |
| regardless of their weight at the time of their | | | | emotionally, physically and psychologically ill-prepared |
| pregnancy, must make an effort to eat healthy and | | | | for the stress and physical exertion of childbirth |
| well-balanced diets so that their babies get the | | | | (Source: Ammer 2005) The less preparation that the |
| healthiest start possible. | | | | woman had, the more likely she was to have tearing |
| Gina is 32 and would like to have a baby soon. | | | | and to need a caesarean section and/or pain relieving |
| Looking at her family history is like looking through a | | | | medications. |
| medical journal, however, and she is worried about | | | | Having a baby does not start with just the |
| the health of her baby if she does become pregnant. | | | | conception. It does not end when the child fights its |
| So she and her husband agree to put the baby plans | | | | way from its watery capsule to take its first |
| on hold for a year while they make changes in their | | | | screaming breath of air. The health and nutrition of |
| diet and their lifestyles. Studies have shown that the | | | | the mother and father can influence the health of |
| diet and health of the prospective father is just as | | | | their babies, not only while in utero but for the rest |
| important as that of the mother, so Gina's husband, | | | | of their lives as well. Childhood obesity is quickly |
| John, is going to join her in the healthier eating for | | | | becoming one of the most serious health conditions |
| the best health of their future offspring. They are | | | | that children will face and increases their risk for a |
| also going to take inventory of the habits that they | | | | number of other conditions as well, including heart |
| have which can impact their children for good and | | | | disease, diabetes and cancers, diseases formerly |
| bad. For instance, John is a smoker, which can be | | | | believed to be only faced by adults. |
| problematic even though Gina is not. Both are fairly | | | | |